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Posted By Peter Bentley
My new book Digitized is just about to hit the shelves and we've had the first book review. It's a nice friendly review from Steven Poole, top of his Choice column in the Guardian Newspaper book section this week. He mentions parts of the book where I describe software engineering and bloat, saying "Tactfully the author makes sure the word Microsoft appears nowhere near this description." Rather amusingly, because of this, the automatic news bot at tmc's online Microsoft News grabbed the review and reproduced it on their website. Anyway, we're very pleased by this first review! You can read it in full below:


 
Posted By Peter Bentley
An exciting day - I got the first copies of my new book Digitized, hot off the the printing press. I'm very pleased with the result - the cover seems quite distinctive (with its little hidden message for the geeks) and it's got a nice quality feel, with good thick paper. Always nice to hold a new book for the first time. Here's what it looks like:


 
Posted By Peter Bentley
I was recently asked to participate in a British Computer Society evening dedicated to the legacy of Alan Turing. It was a fascinating event, with speakers describing different aspects of Turing's legacy to our society today - his papers; how he inspires gay people today. I spoke about Turing's contribution to Computer Science (and also took the opportunity to mention my forthcoming book Digitized briefly). It was a nice opportunity to explain the importance of Turing's ideas; if you want to watch what we all said, a video is available online at the BCS website here.


 
Posted By Peter Bentley
A year after this new book was commissioned, and it is with the publisher, Oxford trade. I've had a lot of fun writing it - I was lucky enough to interview many pioneers of computer science, old and new. We've now decided the best title should be Digitized and we've decided on the cover, see below. There was quite some discussion about what message should be encoded in the QR code that forms part of the cover design. See what you think! The book will be published in March 2012. We plan to have a book launch and signing on March 26 in Waterstones, Gower St, London.


 
Posted By Peter Bentley
I've been commissioned to write a new popular science book, which currently has the working title Digital Lives. It's about computer science and its impact on society and will be on the shelves early 2012. The contract has been signed with the publisher and my research has begun. To begin with, I am asking the following question: "What is your personal definition of computer science?" I'd be grateful for your own views - please add to the comments below. Here are a few answers I've had so far:

If it is green or it wiggles it is Biology. If it stinks it is Chemistry. If it does not work it is Physics and if it is pretentious it is Computer Science.

The art of providing an algorithmic solution for a problem is computer science

Computer Science is the science of how to design & build systems that are fit for purpose, value for money, and improve individual & collective well-being.

Although there are elements of scientific method in the study of computer science, it is not inherently a science: it is a design discipline, with a focus on designing effective systems that support people in their activities. That includes all the theories and practical developments to deliver underpinning technologies that make up those systems.

Computer science is about the discovery and creation of what can be computed, what should be computed, and how to do so efficiently.

Computer Science is a set of theories and applications around a constructivist tinker-toy (Meccano you would say) medium which uses some mathematical formalisms and engineering practices but not rigorously applied or testable with the scientific method.

Computer science explores compositional and constructive approaches to problem- solving, often based on the application of operational rules and structures that are capable of automatic execution, and often by a machine with little or no human intervention.

Computer Science is a science which helps us define our tomorrow by investigating today's interplay between man and machine within different socio-technical contexts.

Computer Science is what a Computer Scientist does.

The only distinctive intellectual contribution of Computer Science in its own right is the application programming interface (API) - the idea that the world is made up of formal systems with formal interfaces, and the only way to achieve your goals in the world is to work out how to squeeze your goals into the language that the APIs permit.

The science of computing is different from physical sciences, which attempt to describe natural phenomena by use of discrete laws, formulae or principles; computer science tries to improve the efficiency or quality of processes by speeding up problem solving, making simulations more realistic and fine-grained, and making representations more dynamic and manageable.

Computer science is the art of constructing utility in the face of non-computability.

Computer Science uses innovative technology to tackle unsolved scientific challenges and turns new scientific discoveries into life-changing technologies.